lawNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Stories from Michigan Radio.NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94lawTue, 26 Sep 2017 14:40:37 +0000lawhttp://michiganradio.org
Jack LessenberryThere’s always a debate as to whether judges should be appointed or elected. The one thing everyone agrees on, at least in theory, is that judges should be nonpartisan. Michigan has an odd hybrid system that manages to ensure that all these things are both true and false -- especially as far as the State Supreme Court is concerned.We elect our judges, but they all get appointedhttp://michiganradio.org/post/we-elect-our-judges-they-all-get-appointed
30610 as http://michiganradio.orgThu, 30 Mar 2017 16:42:08 +0000We elect our judges, but they all get appointedThe Associated PressDETROIT (AP) - A candidate who lost an election for Detroit's 36th District Court is getting his robe another way. Gov. Rick Snyder says he's appointing Christopher Blount to a vacancy on the city court. In November, Blount finished third in a race for two seats at 36th District Court.Snyder appoints Christopher Blount to fill vacancy on Detroit district courthttp://michiganradio.org/post/snyder-appoints-christopher-blount-fill-vacancy-detroit-district-court
30472 as http://michiganradio.orgTue, 21 Mar 2017 14:15:39 +0000Snyder appoints Christopher Blount to fill vacancy on Detroit district courtDetroit Journalism CooperativeWe sat down with entrepreneur, author, clothing line creator, and film and music producer Russell Simmons to get his take on the state of police and justice for Chapter 6 in our Detroit Journalism Cooperative series: Justice . Simmons talks about the frequency that African Americans are being killed by police which has shocked a nation. He also speaks about the importance of having African American police officers in urban areas like Detroit. Watch the clips below: Support for the Detroit Journalism Cooperative on Michigan Radio comes from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Renaissance Journalism's Michigan Reporting Initiative, the Ford Foundation and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.VIDEO: Interview with Russell Simmonshttp://michiganradio.org/post/video-interview-russell-simmons
28553 as http://michiganradio.orgMon, 31 Oct 2016 12:00:00 +0000VIDEO: Interview with Russell SimmonsThe Associated PressGROSSE POINTE PARK, Mich. – Officials in a Detroit suburb where five police officers were suspended for their roles in videos in which a black man is seen singing or chanting plan to sign an agreement about department changes. A statement on behalf of Grosse Pointe Park says the city plans to sign an agreement Wednesday partnering with U.S. Justice Department, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and local groups to "increase policing reforms." The city says the Justice Department and the Department of Civil Rights will help train officers in the latest strategies in community policing. The city also is signing a resolution reaffirming a commitment to diversity as well as human and civil rights.Detroit suburb to sign agreement on police changes http://michiganradio.org/post/detroit-suburb-sign-agreement-police-changes
16411 as http://michiganradio.orgWed, 12 Feb 2014 15:57:49 +0000Detroit suburb to sign agreement on police changes Michigan Radio NewsroomThere appears to be a lot of interest in a new kind of court in Washtenaw County. More than 80 lawyers, mediators, and probation officers packed Judge Timothy Connors' courtroom on Friday. They were there for a six-hour education session on the Native American philosophy that guides the new peacemaking court.Strong interest in new peacemaking court in Washtenaw Countyhttp://michiganradio.org/post/strong-interest-new-peacemaking-court-washtenaw-county
16285 as http://michiganradio.orgMon, 03 Feb 2014 21:15:33 +0000Strong interest in new peacemaking court in Washtenaw CountyMichigan Radio NewsroomIn Michigan, people can no longer use trespassing laws to avoid being served court papers at their doors. At the end of 2013, a new law took effect to exempt process servers from trespassing laws. State Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) introduced the legislation. He said the law aims to increase safety for process servers.New Michigan law exempts process servers from trespassing lawshttp://michiganradio.org/post/new-michigan-law-exempts-process-servers-trespassing-laws
15960 as http://michiganradio.orgThu, 09 Jan 2014 20:27:25 +0000New Michigan law exempts process servers from trespassing lawsSteve CarmodyCivil libertarians are calling on the U.S. Justice Department to expand a probe into the Saginaw Police Department. The Justice Department has been examining the case of Milton Hall. He's a mentally ill homeless man who was gunned down by six Saginaw police officers as he threatened them with a knife. The case has raised questions about how the department deals with African-Americans. Mark Fancher is with the American Civil Liberties Union. He says his office has received several allegations that Saginaw police officers operate in a racially biased manner. Fancher says it’s not clear if race was a factor in the Hall shooting. “But in this particular case, we have reported incidents which are occurring in a city which has had a highly unusual killing of a homeless black man,” says Fancher. The police officers involved the fatal shooting last year were cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.ACLU asks for wider federal probe of Saginaw's police departmenthttp://michiganradio.org/post/aclu-asks-wider-federal-probe-saginaws-police-department
14505 as http://michiganradio.orgThu, 19 Sep 2013 19:16:05 +0000ACLU asks for wider federal probe of Saginaw's police departmentMark BrushHe spent four years in prison after he was convicted in 2009 on an arson charge. But now he is free after a team of lawyers from the University of Michigan's Innocence Clinic proved he was wrongfully convicted. The Innocence Clinic team said Caminata was convicted on "junk science." The Clinic has more on Caminata's conviction: A fire destroyed the home he was living in, and the prosecutor argued that Victor had intentionally started the blaze. There was no direct evidence against Victor, but the prosecution presented the testimony of arson experts, who said that they could tell that the fire was arson, and Victor was the only possible suspect. Victor's attorney failed to properly contest the qualifications of the prosecution's experts, or the content of their testimony. The Michigan Innocence Clinic investigated Victor's case in 2011, and accepted it when it became clear that he was convicted on the basis of junk science. As independent experts retained by the Clinic have attested,Michigan man convicted on 'junk science' is now freehttp://michiganradio.org/post/michigan-man-convicted-junk-science-now-free
13374 as http://michiganradio.orgWed, 03 Jul 2013 21:16:06 +0000Michigan man convicted on 'junk science' is now freeJake NeherGovernor Rick Snyder signed legislation Monday that will make sweeping changes to the state’s public defense system. Snyder says the new law is a big step toward making sure fewer indigent criminal defendants are wrongfully convicted. It will create a commission to set statewide standards for public defense. The group will also monitor counties to make sure each one is meeting those standards. The governor says there’s still a lot of work to do before the state can expect to see improvements. He said, “It will take some time to implement this. But this is something we will be very diligent about the follow-through to make sure it happens right.” The bills passed the state House and Senate last month with bi-partisan support.Governor Snyder signs major overhaul of public defense in Michiganhttp://michiganradio.org/post/governor-snyder-signs-major-overhaul-public-defense-michigan-0
13337 as http://michiganradio.orgTue, 02 Jul 2013 14:26:16 +0000Governor Snyder signs major overhaul of public defense in MichiganThe Associated PressMOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. (AP) - A 77-year-old woman has been sentenced to five years of probation for taking money from a Detroit-area church and has been ordered to repay $50,000. Helen Gvozdich was sentenced Tuesday in Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens, avoiding the possibility of up to two years behind bars. She earlier pleaded guilty to embezzlement in an agreement with prosecutors. Court records say a judge also ordered her to perform community service. Her lawyer has said she devoted decades to serving the church and was the victim of an unfortunate series of events. Authorities originally said that in 2008-2009 Gvozdich stole about $79,000 from St. Stevan Decanski Serbian Orthodox Church in Warren. Prosecutors say church officials agreed to accept $50,000 repayment if she pleaded guilty.Woman, 77, gets probation in church embezzlementhttp://michiganradio.org/post/woman-77-gets-probation-church-embezzlement
9993 as http://michiganradio.orgTue, 20 Nov 2012 15:38:09 +0000Woman, 77, gets probation in church embezzlementMark BrushThe Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down mandatory life sentences for juveniles convicted of murder does not apply retroactively. The case involved a resentencing request for Raymond Carp. In 2006, Carp was convicted of first-degree murder as a 16-year old. Jonathan Oosting of MLive has more: The Michigan Court of Appeals today denied a resentencing request for Raymond Carp, 21, who is serving a mandatory term of life in prison without the possibility of parole for a first-degree murder conviction when he was 16. The U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year ruled that such mandatory sentences are an unconstitutional form of cruel and unusual punishment that do not take into account a young person's potential for cognitive and character development. "Cruel and unusual punishment" is part of the U.S. Constitution's 8th amendment. The case could be appealed to the Michigan Supreme Court. Jake Neher reported earlier this week that there "are nearlyCourt: No review of sentences for current juvenile lifershttp://michiganradio.org/post/court-no-review-sentences-current-juvenile-lifers
9957 as http://michiganradio.orgFri, 16 Nov 2012 17:10:33 +0000Court: No review of sentences for current juvenile lifersMark BrushMichigan voters passed a medical marijuana law in 2008, but state prosecutors say its being abused. The Times Herald of Port Huron reports on charges being leveled against a marijuana dispensary group: Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette filed charges Wednesday against six people connected to an investigation of the Blue Water Compassion Centers in St. Clair, Sanilac and Tuscola counties. Authorities raided the centers, which distributed information about medical marijuana and other products, on Dec. 9, 2011 in Kimball Township in St. Clair County, Denmark Township in Tuscola County, and Worth Township and Lexington in Sanilac County. Authorities also raided a greenhouse in Worth Township as well as the home of Debra Amsdill. Six people face multiple felony charges, according to information and warrant documents from the attorney general’s office. Debra Amsdill, an owner of the Blue Water Compassion Centers, said she would issue a statement on the charges tomorrow.Charges filed against Michigan medical marijuana centershttp://michiganradio.org/post/charges-filed-against-michigan-medical-marijuana-centers
9933 as http://michiganradio.orgThu, 15 Nov 2012 17:47:48 +0000Charges filed against Michigan medical marijuana centersLindsey SmithNearly half the people who took the latest state exam for aspiring attorneys failed. Among first time test takers, just 62-percent passed; the lowest passage percentage in at least a decade. Many in the legal community are blaming the sharp drop on the new way the test score is calculated. Marcia McBrien is a spokeswoman for the Michigan Supreme Court. The court nominates the State Board of Law Examiners (BLE), which oversees the Michigan Bar Examination. “The goal here is for those who pass the bar exam to have a certain level of competence and we think that’s what we’re doing,” McBrien said. The board changed the formula it used to score the test in February and July this year. Markedly more people failed both of those exams compared to previous years.New Michigan Bar Exam scoring causing a stir in legal communityhttp://michiganradio.org/post/new-michigan-bar-exam-scoring-causing-stir-legal-community
9928 as http://michiganradio.orgThu, 15 Nov 2012 15:33:56 +0000New Michigan Bar Exam scoring causing a stir in legal communityUpdate Thursday, November 1, 2:00 p.m. A series of shootings on or near I-96 has Michigan motorists thinking twice about driving the interstate. A police task force reports 24 confirmed shootings since October 16. Here is a summary of what we've learned since then: 22 of the shootings occurred between October 16 and October 18. Two shootings occurred Saturday, October 27. Only three of the reported shootings have occurred on the interstate, the rest have taken place on major roads and streets near the highway. MLive has compiled a map of the shootings . Only one person has been injured since the shootings began. A West Michigan resident was shot in the buttocks as he was driving to Detroit for the World Series last Saturday. A task force including state and local police, the FBI, and ATF has been assembled to handle the case. So far they've received over 2,000 tips thanks in part to a $102,000 reward for information on the shooter. The most recent description of the suspect depicts aUpdates on the I-96 shooterhttp://michiganradio.org/post/updates-i-96-shooter
9554 as http://michiganradio.orgThu, 01 Nov 2012 18:00:37 +0000Updates on the I-96 shooterMark BrushStudent Count Day just took place across Michigan earlier this week. The amount of state aid a school receives is dependent on the number of students attending. Now we hear news about a charter school director who may have falsified student count records. From the Muskegon Chronicle : The former director of the WayPoint Academy charter school, Barbara Stellard, faces multiple felony charges of fraudulently obtaining state school aid and by falsifying school records in a case that appears to involve student count numbers. The 10 felony and high court misdemeanor charges were brought by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office and stem from reports filed in 2008, according to court records. The Michigan Department of Education is listed as the complainant. WayPoint officials did not comment on the charges. The sixth through 12th grade charter school is located at 2900 Apple Ave. in Muskegon Township. The arrest warrant indicates that while Stellard was a “an officer or employee of WayPointFormer charter school director in Muskegon charged with falsifying count recordshttp://michiganradio.org/post/former-charter-school-director-muskegon-charged-falsifying-count-records
9381 as http://michiganradio.orgFri, 05 Oct 2012 15:48:34 +0000Former charter school director in Muskegon charged with falsifying count recordsMark BrushEarlier this month it was announced the Saginaw police officers who shot and killed a homeless, mentally ill man would not face criminal charges . 49-year-old Milton Hall was killed by Saginaw Police July 1, after police say he refused to drop a knife. Six officers fired several dozen shots at Hall. Now we hear that some officers will be disciplined internally by the Saginaw Police Department. The Associated Press reports that "one Saginaw police supervisor has been demoted, and two officers will be disciplined." The case received national attention when CNN released a video that was taped from someone's cell phone of the police shooting and killing the homeless man in a parking lot. More on the disciplinary actions from the AP : The on-scene supervisor during the July 1 shooting of Milton Hall, 49, was reprimanded and demoted to the rank of patrolman, Acting Police Chief Brian Lipe said, and the two officers being disciplined received reprimands for not following the department’sSaginaw police officers disciplined in wake of homeless man shooting, mother still looks for answershttp://michiganradio.org/post/saginaw-police-officers-disciplined-wake-homeless-man-shooting-mother-still-looks-answers
9188 as http://michiganradio.orgFri, 21 Sep 2012 16:56:21 +0000Saginaw police officers disciplined in wake of homeless man shooting, mother still looks for answersMark BrushThe Flint Journal reports this morning about three killings over the weekend, bring the total number of homicides to 50: Three homicides in as many days has brought the city's total to 50 slayings for the year. The latest was a shooting and hit and run that left one man dead... The city didn't record its 50th homicide last year until late October. In 2010, the city set a record for the number of homicides at 66. That's in a city with a shrinking population.A violent weekend in Flint, Michigan, homicides hit 50http://michiganradio.org/post/violent-weekend-flint-michigan-homicides-hit-50
9112 as http://michiganradio.orgMon, 17 Sep 2012 15:02:04 +0000A violent weekend in Flint, Michigan, homicides hit 50Mark BrushSeveral years ago, brothers Matt and Keegan Myers had an idea - capitalize on the love people have for the Leelanau County area by selling t-shirts, hats, coffee cups, bumper stickers, wine, and other items with the state highway M-22 logo on them. State highway M-22 winds through the scenic coastal areas northwest of Traverse City, and along the Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan's "pinkie." The idea took off. The brothers trademarked the logo. And annual sales continue to increase ($2 million this year, according to the WSJ ). But as other retailers began to use the idea, the Myers brothers fought to protect their trademark rights, saying they had exclusive rights to all other state highway signs in Michigan. The Wall Street Journal's Matt Dolan reports their trademark claim has hit a roadblock with Michigan's Attorney General Bill Schuette. This spring, Michigan's attorney general ruled that all state road signs, including M-22, are in the public domain, and widely available to citizensOwners of M-22 logo promise to "go down fighting" http://michiganradio.org/post/owners-m-22-logo-promise-go-down-fighting
8956 as http://michiganradio.orgWed, 05 Sep 2012 17:02:42 +0000Owners of M-22 logo promise to "go down fighting" Mark BrushYesterday, 36th District Judge Cylenthia LaToye Miller cleared her courtroom after bedbugs were reportedly seen on a man sitting in the courtroom. Today, the Associated Press reports the court is back in session: Court officials say a pest control company was called in to investigate and found no evidence of the presence of bedbugs. A release called it a "false alarm." The man was accompanying a witness to a hearing before Miller. His daughter later said she knew there were bedbugs in her father's house. Miller said Thursday the evacuation was "for everybody's well-being." Her staff was sent home after Miller was unable to move her cases to another courtroom.With no trace of bedbugs, Detroit court back in sessionhttp://michiganradio.org/post/no-trace-bedbugs-detroit-court-back-session
8796 as http://michiganradio.orgFri, 24 Aug 2012 14:37:16 +0000With no trace of bedbugs, Detroit court back in sessionMark BrushMLive reports the Pastor of a church with around 750 members confessed to turning in receipts for reimbursement that were never approved. More from MLive : A Kentwood pastor has allegedly confessed to embezzling more than $100,000 from his church over the last several years, according to court documents. Etheridge Henry Moore, 58, a 26-year head pastor Heritage Baptist Church in Gaines Township, was arraigned on one count of embezzlement over $100,000 before Judge Steven Servaas in Kent County 63rd District Court on Thursday afternoon.Pastor in West Michigan accused of embezzling more than $100,000http://michiganradio.org/post/pastor-west-michigan-accused-embezzling-more-100000
8795 as http://michiganradio.orgFri, 24 Aug 2012 14:30:37 +0000Pastor in West Michigan accused of embezzling more than $100,000